Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 10 : Record of press coverage, March 1982 - May 1984

,•· The Courier-Mail 6 May 19 8 3 IN 1974:' just as China em– erged from the turmoil of the Cultural Rev·oiution, an ar– chaeological discovery of un– precedented magnitude add– ed a new dimension· to the history and art of this most ancient and enduring civilisa– tion. Eight years later, and with work still proceeding, it is as– sumed that an army of approxi– mately 7500 warriors and hors– es, made of terracotta, was placed in subterranean pits leading 10 the burial mound, which still hides the mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, First Emper– or of China, who died in 210 BC. Qin Shihuan» it was who united !he divided feudal prov– inc~s under a centralised gov– ernment, introduced land re– fo rms, uniform fneasures and weights, rebuilt and extended the Great Wall. This powerful, determined and ruthless man is also known for the destruction of all classi– cal writings and records and for his over-riding obsession with his own immortality. On hi s ascension to the throne, Qin Shihuang started on the building of his tomb, with a lavishness that rivals thoseof the Egyptian pharaohs. The Qin dynasty, supposed to last forever, ended after 15 years with uprisings and revolu– tion by a despairing nation THE Kneeling Bowman ... one of sefen terracotta warriors on show whose resources the insatiable ruler .had exhausted. A 40 m mound stiU conceals Qin Shihuang's mausoleum . .The huge terracotta army was its guardian. A selection of the warriors and horses has been shown in many parts of the world but the nine figures touring the state galleries of Australia are the largest complement the Pe·o– ple's Republic of China has so far permitted to !ravel abroad. Seven warriors and two hors– es might seem a small exhibi– tion , but go to see how worthwhile it is! The impression is simP.IY stunning. The incredibly hfe- like appearance of the figures is enhanced by a quite magical theatrical display, designed by Mike Bridges with the aid of David Bell. Spaces of the gallery have been transformed to recreate the atmosphere of the pits, which is supported by wall-size .color ·photographs printed on canvas, showing where warriors and horses were placed 2200 years ago; computer-controlled light-changes spot the figures in the darkness and make them appear to breathe; large wall– mirrors allow comrlcte views of the figures, as wcl as create an illusion of greater numbers. The human figures, as well as the horse s, arc constructed from grey clay, fired to earthen– ware temperature. The legs of men and horses arc solid clay and bodies and heads hollow; the parts have been fitted together before fir– ing in the kiln. Facial features, ha ir styles, and finer details have been hand-finished and given individuality to the gener– ally bulk-produced figures . Mongolian ponies, too, have individual features. The warriors arc dignified, with no expression of fierceness; rather, they are distinguished by expressions of alertness and composure. As works of art they have a classical restraint, and the rounded volumes and simplified planes of the main masses show thci r origin as good potted forms . But the hand-finished details and additions in finer clay arc of great finesse. Attention has been given . even to the tread pattern on the shoe sole of a kneeling bowman. All figures offer satisfying views from every angle, but the kneeling bowman is particular• ly impressive. The greatest surprise in the discovery of the terracotta war– riors and horses was that before their creation around 200 BC nothing of this kind was known in China. Unless future surprising dis– coveries occur, the terracotta army of Qin Shihuang will re– main the only testimony of li– fesize, realistic figurative art in China 's Bronze Age (which dates from c. 1600 BC) as well as the following Han and Tang · drnastics, when terracotta buri– .a figures were small in size by comparison. Mobil deserves special thanks for sponsoring the exhi– bition to the tune of $350,000. This unique exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery is being shown for four weeks .to June 5. - Dr GERTRUDE LANGER